The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-27
LOUIS LINGG'S LIFE.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE GER
MAN ANARCHIST.
Expelled from Switzerland Because He
Would Not Serve In the German
Army, He Makes His Way to Ameri-
en-.


been given TO the Social Science, a New
York publication. II is highly interesting
reading, and well worthy of reproduction
II reads MS follows:
81 beheld the light OF this world on the
9th day OF September 1864, in Mannheim,
Grand Duchy Of Baden, At the age Of
five years | visited school, first, the so.
called city or elementary school, and,
later, after the general reorganization OF
the school system, at the timeof the union
of Germany, following the Franco-German
war, the mixed public school.
being cared for sufficiently by my
parents, my early youth was happy one
indeed, until fatal accident which boicll
my father brought about such a change I'm
our situation that not very seldom want
and hunger were questions in our family,
and only the untiring efforts OF my mother
prevented their visits from becoming daily
ones In his efforts 10 contribute 20 the
wealth Of his employer, q dealer, my father
undertook u task which all Of his fellow
slaves refused to do, to-wE lie endcayorcd
10 replace heavy log Of oak which had
Slipped from the banks upon the frozen
surface Of the rive Ncckar 10 the shore. In
his zeal to accomplish the task the trcach-
erous ice crust gave way, and father disap.
pcarcd below the ice in the waters OF the
river. and could be saved only after the
most strenuous efforts and dligcnt search.
This event destroyed his robust nature 10
such degree thai his working capacity
was reduced by Il very much In conse-
quence thereof his noble employer saw the
a.. 81 4 a.
wage slave who had worked for him for
twelve long years, and whose health had
been ruined In his zeal 10 further the
Interests Of his master, and after little
while my father was discharged altogether.
"All the incidents which ! have mar.
rated implanted in INV mind the seeds OF
bitter hatred against the existing society,
which feeling grew still more intense with
my entrance into the industrial arena, and
which has inspired me in my late agia.
ton against capiialisIic socicty, with It's
harbaritics and inhuman effects. NV
mother would punish me severely when
ever committed the slightest oncnses,
especially when followed by material
damage The natural consequence was
that, instead Of being possessed OF genuine
childlikc love toward mother, | dreaded
her In n certain dcgnre, although | was
her confidential companion in all her
grieis and sorrows.
VERY often mother rcproachcd me be-
cause had chosen the carpenter trade for
the occupation Of my life; she had hoped
that might secure q situation ~ copv-t
In some office, which would have had the
advantage OF enabling me Ia earn little
money nom the beginning. But I stuck
20 my choice for various reasons. deemed
the knowledge Of n distinct trade the best
Tor me, because was opposed Ia being de-
pendent on one master, and especially be-.
cause | had desire Ia travel and see the
world. 10 my mother at last renowned
her objections and yielded To my desire
with the words 4 mans will Is his
heaven. Aher ! had served INV apprrn.
ticcship, which lasted from 1872 10 lSS2,
and during which tinc my master had en-
dcavorvd rather to make capital ont NJ me
than 60 interest himself IN my thorough
accomplishment, ! took up the wanderers
E,an IN order that might src the world
and 90 perfect the knowledge of my trade
among other Surroundings and deal with
other people.
~ lint worked q short time in Strns.
bourg, Province AlsIcc, aud then in Fri.
berg, Baden, at which place | Joined the
Worklngmcn's Educational society, which
organization WIS the remnants of the Ger.
man National Woringmcn's union, found.
ed 10y the noted sociulislic ngitator, lasalle.
IA the year 1903"
Hem linrg goes on % describe the
beauties OF Swilz,rland, through which hc
went un foot, finally securing work In
Zurich. lie describes great deal oi the
scenery il an enthusiastic way, but goc.
on % say.
''Thc pictures which have drawn In
the foregoing account Of my soiourn In
Switzerland were only the bright sides oI
my experiences; but, dear reader, YOU
must not think that because switzerland .,
a romantic and beautiful country Il Is als,
n land where grievances aud mis,rics an
unknown.
''Tho uniavoublc sides which were inn
pressed upon me consisted at my diup
poinimcnts and experiences with rtgnrl I,
tr'cd0m. political ~ well n economical
Tho tint city where ! succeeded IN OBJ
tanning work was Borne HERE Joined
The General Murkingmrn's Hoci,ty,' nu
organization which has "A eocinli.tic ton.
dcncy and has branches throughout
Switzerland Soon after my arrival hi
BCfnc this organization split into two iac
tons one social democratic. and the Other
nnarchIsiic, and, as % this time WIS moi
familiar With the doctrines OF socialism hi
such degree as ! am now, | did not know
which course to take. and. therefore, M,
participation n the labor movement wa.
but humble.
"ln lucGmc. the SECOND town which
furnished mo with work. things were H.
uc different lculs between the anarch
tsiic and .pcial democratic factions Weur Or
the calendar here also. and NJ first / Wa
inclined io ucilhor0nc nor the other. liul
then took occasion Ia study the matter o
dispute With more zeal, aud became NOR
pronounced la NY principles. | became
social rcyolutinnisi, and shared the tactic
Of the anarchisls approved oi th,
propaganda of deed. which was carried on
very vigorously NJ this time by, among
Others, Schumacher aud kammcror. whom
j know personally o. honest aud true
workingmon, at Vienna, Frankfort, Stus.
bOufg. etc.
"ln the meantime. Ia the spring Of 1894
The period had arrived Whou my stay iu
hWiizcrland was no longer possible on ac
count ol my military duty. I had no lie
sire o. spend time ot thc best years oi my
youth IN military service Tor the defense o
throne, altar and money bag or even .,
satisfy Che capricCs Ut some crowned idiot
IN causing Wholesale murders. cOmmonll
called War. a. the much praised freedom
Of Switzerland had sunk so low that ID
government does not allow q German VIII,
has cvaded military service In hiH countr,
20 wmain within iis borders. | was fin
expelled from the Canton Luccmc. Thh
could by no means induce me 10 return 1,
Germany or what would bo the eaml